Shooting guard

Andy RautinsJr., 6-5, 205
Rautins led Syracuse in scoring for the fourth straight game on Wednesday.

Power forward

0-Gregory EcheniqueFr., 6-9, 260
He's their best post player. Physically strong and has a real good touch around the basket.

Rick JacksonSo., 6-9, 240
A big test for Jackson tonight as he goes up against Rutgers freshman Gregory Echenique.

Center

5-Hamady NdiayeJr., 6-11, 235
An excellent presence defensively. One of the best shot-blockers in the country. Another effective rebounder on both backboards.

Arinze OnuakuJr., 6-9, 275
It's the muscle of Onuaku against the shot-blocking ability of Rutgers' Hamady Ndiaye. Onuaku must get into Ndiaye and take away his reach.

On the court

Rutgers Bench

Inman's a former starter who gives them a nice boost off the bench. He can score in spurts and rebounds well. Pettis is an athletic guy. Coburn's struggled some this year. He's become the fourth guard.

An assistant coach familiar with Rutgers provided the "On the Court" tip as well as a rundown on the Rutgers' starters and bench.

Inside the stats

Andy Rautins has raised his 3-point shooting percentage 10 points in the last four games. He's 25-for-44 in the last four games and is now at 40.1 percent for the season.

Three points

1. Rutgers is facing its fifth straight nationally-ranked opponent tonight. The Scarlet Knights' last four games have been against North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Marquette.2. The Rutgers Athletic Center is one of the toughest arenas in the Big East, but Syracuse hasn't lost there since the 2002-03 national championship season. Rutgers beat the Orange that year 68-65 at the RAC.3. Rutgers freshman Gregory Echenique played on the Venezuela Junior National Team in each of the last two summers.

Who's hot

Arinze Onuaku posted his third double-double in SU's last four games with 14 points and 12 rebounds against DePaul. He's scored in double-figures in 14 of SU's 16 games.

Mike's mailbox

Post-Standard basketball writer Mike Waters answers readers' questions about the Orange, the Big East, all of college basketball and just about anything else.

Q: What is up with the wrap on Jonny Flynn's left arm? He has had it for a few games. I have not heard anyone comment on it.

-- Lynda, Elbridge

Mike Waters: Jonny Flynn sustained several bumps on his left biceps early in the season. He began wearing a small pad on his upper left arm to protect the muscle.

Q: How many scholarships can a basketball team give? Would we be in trouble if only the seniors left this year?

-- John

Mike Waters: The NCAA limit on scholarships for men's basketball is 13. Syracuse will be at the NCAA limit next season. Syracuse currently has 12 players on scholarship, including Scoop Jardine and Wes Johnson who are both sitting out this season. The only scholarship senior on the team is Kristof Ongenaet. Syracuse has two recruits signed for next season. They are Brandon Triche of Jamesville-DeWitt High School and James Southerland of Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass. So Syracuse will have 13 players on scholarship, barring any other departures.

Q: How many times has Syracuse been ranked No. 1?

-- Jason S.

Mike Waters: Syracuse has been the No. 1 team in the Associated Press poll on two occasions. Syracuse was the top-ranked team in the AP's preseason poll in 1987-88. The Orangemen lost their season-opener to North Carolina and fell out of the top spot. Syracuse was No. 1 again to start the 1989-90 season. The Orangemen won their first 10 games, but a loss to Villanova on Jan. 6, 1990 dropped Syracuse to No. 6.

Q: How is the early season schedule (before Big East games) determined ?-- JM in Canada

Mike Waters: Rob Edson, Syracuse University's senior associate athletic director, does most of the legwork in putting together Syracuse's non-conference schedule. I e-mailed Edson and he said that he contacts, or is contacted by, potential opponents and tries to line up dates that suit both schools and make sense considering factors such as the academic calendar, holidays, the SU football schedule, teams that provide local and regional interest, teams that can add value to SU's strength of schedule, and how it can help prepare the team for conference play.

As the schedule starts to fill up, there are fewer available dates and fewer schools with those dates available.

Edson works on the schedule in conjunction with SU basketball coach Jim Boeheim who has the final say on all matters regarding the schedule.